The arrival of baby degus is often a surprise, related to incorrect sexing or the acquisition of a pregnant female. However, a litter requires certain management to ensure that the young grow up in the best possible conditions.
The website worldofdegus.com strongly encourages all its readers to prefer adoption over purchasing from pet stores or breeders. However, establishing breeding standards can help regulate health issues and prevent physical deformities in degus. This is a tool intended for breeders.
Sexing
It is essential, first and foremost, to immediately separate unsterilized males, a few days before the expected birth or as soon as the baby degus are discovered.
Females can have multiple litters when conditions are favorable. Indeed, they have a 50% chance of starting a new postpartum cycle in captivity. Therefore, it is important to remove the male at the end of gestation to prevent the female from having multiple litters.
Creating a suitable breeding environment
A safe and quiet habitat
After giving birth, it is essential to leave the mother and her babies in a calm environment. Place the secure cage in a quiet area, at a moderate temperature, away from noise and disturbances. Use a cage with closely spaced bars and limit climbing options. Remove water bowls and replace them with bottles. Provide ample hay and fleece to line the nest.
Avoid handling the mother and the babies during the first few days unless absolutely necessary. They should not be separated from the mother or put under stress. When socialization is disrupted, degus exhibit hospitalism, which is a mental regression, resulting in deficits in vocal behavior, personality development, intellectual and social skills, as well as mental disorders01.
Monitoring the mother’s health
Giving birth can be taxing for the mother. Monitor her health and ensure she is eating well. Consider weighing her regularly. It is normal for her to lose some weight after giving birth, but she should gradually regain it. Provide her with a balanced diet to help her recover and produce enough milk for her young. Ensure food is available to her at all times throughout the lactation period.
Ensuring adequate nutrition
Young degus begin nursing shortly after birth. The mother has eight nipples, but if the litter is large, some babies may not receive enough milk. In this case, it may be necessary to supplement the young’s diet with specific rodent milk, following a veterinarian’s advice. The young will start eating solid food after a few days, but nursing remains essential until weaning, which occurs around 2 months.
Managing social interactions
Degus are very social animals. If you have a group of degus, it is beneficial to leave other adults, including the father (if he is neutered), with the mother and the babies02. This relieves the mother, as the other degus can help care for the young by keeping them warm or watching over their safety.
Monitory baby development
Degus pups are born furred, with their eyes open, and can walk a few hours after birth. They will start exploring their environment and nibbling on solid food after about a week. Monitor their weight to ensure they are developing correctly. The weight of the babies may vary, but consistent weight gain is a good health indicator.
Preparing for weaning
Weaning occurs naturally between 72 and 75 days after birth03, at which point they become capable of feeding solely on solid food. It is crucial not to separate the pups from their mother and siblings before this period, as this could lead to long-term behavioral and health issues.
Males should be separated at the age of two months.
Reintroducing the male
If the male was separated before the birth to avoid another pregnancy, he can be reintroduced into the cage once he has been neutered, after waiting a month post-neutering. However, ensure that the female is well-rested and that the reintroduction is gradual to avoid any stress.
Avoiding successive breeding
To protect the mother’s health, it is essential to avoid successive breeding. If you do not want any new litters, consider separating the males or having the males neutered.
Putting babies to adoption
If you do not wish to keep all the babies, you can put them up for adoption as early as 2 months by following the steps in our article.
Conclusion
The arrival of degus pups requires good preparation. By following these steps, you can ensure the well-being of both the mother and the young. If you have any doubts or issues, do not hesitate to consult a veterinarian specialized in rodents for further advice.
Sources
- Octodon degus. A useful animal model for social-affective neuroscience research: Basic description of separation distress, social attachments and play[↩]
- An experimental examination of the consequences of communal versus solitary breeding on maternal condition and the early postnatal growth and survival of degu, Octodon degus, pups[↩]
- Dental Eruption Chronology in Degus (Octodon Degus)[↩]